Following The Mill's Closure, Thirty Former Employees Affiliate with The Heist at Thinkingbox
A New Chapter Unfolds: Ex-Mill Employees Join Thinkingbox's The Heist
In a major shakeup, more than two dozen former employees of the shuttered production powerhouse The Mill have shifted gears, joining integrated creative company Thinkingbox's division The Heist this spring.
Thinkingbox, headed by executive creative director Patrick Coleman (former head of design at The Mill), is beefing up its motion design, live action, and post-production offerings following the exodus. Top professionals from The Mill, including Coleman himself, Blake Nickle (director of production, Chicago), and Jason Esser (creative director), are leading the charge in Thinkingbox's new Chicago office.
Justin Inman, the ex-vice president of business development at The Mill, has also landed at Thinkingbox in a senior position, advancing the company's business development endeavors.
As of now, Thinkingbox has welcomed more than 30 former Mill employees with plans to bring in additional talent from both North America and Europe. This mass migration continues the ongoing rearrangement in the production sector following the crash of several studios earlier this year, including The Mill and MPC.
A Missed Acquisition Opportunity
When the news about The Mill's closure hit, Thinkingbox attempted to negotiate a global acquisition of the renowned studio. However, the complexities of a last-minute global deal made it an impractical option.
The Heist: Expanding Thinkingbox's Creative Arsenal
Thinkingbox's acquisition of The Heist in 2022 has led to a 40% year-over-year growth for the Canadian-based production company. Brands like Intuit, Hilton, McDonald's, and Riot Games have become new clients, reaffirming the success of the combination.
Integrating key talent from The Mill will further propel Thinkingbox's expansion into the integrated creative, strategy, production, and design realm, as envisioned by founder and CEO Amir Sahba. He believes that "brands will require production and creative under one roof."
For the former Mill team, the opportunity with Thinkingbox means they can "do it different" in production services, striving to remain creatively-led, people-focused, and flexible.
Inman, a key leader in the new collaborative venture, shares Sahba's vision, aiming to cultivate an environment that supports and amplifies creative ideas without hindrances from bureaucracy or hierarchy and fosters strong client partnerships.
Enrichment Data:
- What Happened to MPC and The Mill: In early 2025, financial difficulties caused the appointment of administrators for Technicolor Group, the parent company of MPC and The Mill. Shutdowns of some facilities followed, but later that year, the French studios of both brands were acquired by TransPerfect.
- The Impact on Thinkingbox: The Mill's shutdown in 2025 triggered the hiring of 30 former Mill employees by Thinkingbox, who bolstered its own motion design and post-production services through the creation of a new division called The Heist. Thinkingbox explored acquiring The Mill globally when the shutdown was announced but ultimately did not materialize.
- Thinkingbox, previously headed by Patrick Coleman (former head of design at The Mill), made an attempt to acquire The Mill globally when it closed down, but the complexity of a last-minute global deal made it impractical.
- The Heist, a division of Thinkingbox, was bolstered by the addition of more than 30 former Mill employees, contributing to a 40% year-over-year growth for the Canadian-based production company.
- Integrating key talent from The Mill will further aid Thinkingbox in expanding its influence in the integrated creative, strategy, production, and design industry, aligning with the vision of founder and CEO Amir Sahba.
- The former Mill team, now part of Thinkingbox, aims to deliver production services that are creatively-led, people-focused, and flexible under the leadership of Justin Inman, the ex-vice president of business development at The Mill, who now holds a senior position at Thinkingbox.
